Adjustable diffuser devices



G. w. MEEK ADJUSTABLE DIFFUSER DEVICES July 2, 1957 Filed June 6, 1952INVENIOR "GEORGE w. MEEK ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 2,797,844Patented July 2, 1957 2,797,844 ADJUSTABLE DIFFUSER DEVICES George W.Meek, Pelham, N. Y., assignor to Airkem, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New: York Application June-6, 1952,.Serial No. 2952,14:

3 Claims. (CL 220-93) This invention relates to diffuser devices of thetype employed in the introduction of volatilizable material into air.More particularly, the invention relates to diffuser devices adapted forthe introduction of vapors 'into air from substantially solidified orsolid vola'tilizable material, and to means for adjustably controllingthe rate of .such introduction of vapors into air.

In the past, the introduction of vapors into air from the volatilizablematerial for-the purpose of odor control and the like has been quitegenerally carried out using a liquid volatilizable material andintroducing the same into air by means of a wick device. While the useof such wick devices permits a considerable variation and .control ofthe rate of vaporization, there are inherent disadvantages of wickbottles. There is for example the constant danger of spillage; andfurthermore, theiwick devices frequently become unsightly during use.

. An object of my invention is to provide a diffuser device comprisingin combination a container part and a diffuser unit having vaporpenetrable walls and adapted to receive a substantially solidified orsolid volatilizable material, said container and difiuser. unit havingcoopcrating means thereon for providing vertical. adjustment of thediffuser unit with respect to the container. Afnrther object of myinvention is to provide a cooperating engagement between the containerpart and the diifuser unit whereby relative rotation of the partsprovides a vertical movement of the diffuser unit with respect to thecontainer. A still further object of the invention is to provide acooperative engagement between the diffuser unit and container partwhich in different positions of adjustment will retain the diffuser unitagainst inadvertent vertical movement in the container.

My invention will be readily understood from .a consideration of thefollowing description together with the accompanying drawing in whichcertain adaptations of my invention are shown, and in which the variousparts thereof are identified 'by suitable reference characters in eachof the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my device showing the partsthereof in extended and disengaged relationship. 7

Fig. 2 is a partial section of the upper portion of the device. as shownin Fig. l with the parts in assembled position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device with theparts thereof in a partially extended position and with part of thestructure broken away and in section; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view indicating a' further modification.

{The diffuser device as shown in Figs. 1 and. 2 ofthe drawing is oneform of the device in accordance with my invention comprising acontainer having a closure cap 11 therefor adapted for threadedengagement with the upper edge 12 of the container. Secured to the cap11 is an elongated hanger rod 13 terminating at its lower end in askeleton base 14 adapted to support a cartridge 15 of volatilizablematerial. The assemblage, comprising the rod. 13, the bracket 14.and thecartridge 15, may be considered as the diifuser unit of the device.

The container 10 is provided with a series of. spirally arranged grooves16 and ridges 17 on the interior surface thereof. As. shown in thedrawing, these grooves and ridges are formed by a spiral molding ofthe'wallsof the container 10. It is to be understood however that theexterior surface of the container 10 may be smooth Orornamented in anydesired manner and that the formation of the internal grooves and ridgesmay be quite independent of the molding or fashioning of outer surfacesof the container. It. will be noted however that the grooves 16 must. beof suitable dimensions to receive protruding tongues 18 on the support14, and sincethe support comprises three radially arranged members 19,it will further be apparent that the container 10 is provided with threespirally arranged grooves for reception of the tongues 18. The internalcontour of the container 10 at theupper end 20 and lower end 21 thereofis of a sufiicient diameter to permit free rotation of the support 14and the tongues 18 thereon. In other words, the spiral grooves andridges within the container 10 terminate short of. the ends thereof inorder to facilitate insertion of the diffuser unit in the container, andfurther, when the diffuser unit is wholly within the container topermitrotation of the cap 12 in sealing the diffuser device.

The cartridge. 15 may be a solid body of volatilizable material or, onthe other hand, it may be any suitable container having vapor penetrablewalls for reception of an essentially solidified. or sol-idvolatilizable material. In the partial section shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, where the device is shown in'the closed or inoperative positionwith the cap 11 secured to the container 10, I have indicated thecartridge 15 as comprising an essentially cylindrical receptacle 22'having apertures 23 in the side wallsthereof to permit the passage ofvapors there through. The cartridge 15 or receptacle 22 thereof isarranged about the rod 13 which passes axially through the cartridge. Imay employ a loose fitting engagement between the rod 13 and thecartridge 15 to permit assemblage of the parts. On the other hand, it ispossible also to mold a body of volatilizable material directly on therod 13 prior to securing the bracket 14 and cap 11 thereto. I

Various types and kinds of volatilizable material can be utilized in mydevice. Thus, for example, an air treating composition in substantiallysolidified or gel form can be employed, or liquid volatilizable materialcan be absorbed on a suitable granular porous solid, such as pumice, andarranged within a container such as the receptacle 22. It is to beunderstood however thatthe particular type or composition ofvolatilizable material forms no part of the present invention.

In the operation of the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the closeddiffuser device is initially opened byunscrewing the cap 11 from thecontainer 10; then using the cap 11 as a fingerpiece, the diffuser unitassemblage is drawn upwardly and rotated to bring the tongues 18 intoengagement with the internal spiral grooves 16 of the container. At thispoint, rotation of the cap 11 and the diffuser unit assemblage securedthereto will cause a corresponding vertical movement of the assemblagein the container 10. When the rotary movement is stopped, the tongues 18operating in the grooves 16 support and retain the diifuser unitassemblage in the particular position of-vert-ical adjustment. In this.way, the degreeto which the cartridge 15 protrudes beyond the upper edge12 of the container can be varied, thus varying the rate of evaporationof volatilizable material therefrom. It will be apparent that the spiralgrooves permit adjustment of the cartridge 15 throughout a range from avery slight protrusion of the container to substantially completeprotrusion of the container, thus giving a wide range of control andproviding a diffuser device which can be adapted to many changingconditions.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a modified form of diffuserdevice comprising a container 24 having a beaded upper edge 25 adaptedto receive a suitable cap 26. Secured to the inner bottom wall of thecontainer 24 is a base plate 27 which supports an axial threaded stem 28within the container. The stem 28, thus, is fixedly mounted in thecontainer 24 and may be considered as constituting an integral partthereof.

A diffuser unit 29 is arranged for telescopic insertion in the container24 and thereby sealed therein when the cap 26 is secured to thecontainer. The diffuser unit 29 comprises vapor penetrable side walls30, a top wall 31 and a bottom"wall 32 having secured centrally thereofan inwardly threaded tubular member 33 adapted to engage the threadedstem 28 of the container. The top wall 31 is preferably provided with afingerpiece 34 facilitating rotary movement of the diffuser unit 29within the container 24. It will be noted in this connection that rotarymovement of the diffuser unit imparts a proportionate vertical movementof the diffuser unit with respect to the container 24. In this way, itis possible to selectively adjust the extent to which the apertures 30'in the side walls 30 are exposed above the upper edge 25 of thecontainer in regulating the rate of vaporization of volatilizablematerial from the diffuser unit 29.

It will be understood however that the apertures 30' are merely shownfor purpose of illustration. In actual practice, the vapor penetrablewall 30 may be fashioned of any suitable material to provide openings ofa type which will permit free passage of air and vapors therethrough.Thus, for example, it would be possible to employ in the side wall 30 awoven screen or mesh-like material presenting a large number of verysmall openings throughout the surface of the wall 30. With such aconstruction, it will be evident that extremely fine adjustments in therate of vaporization can be effected. In this connection, it will befurther noted that the diffuser unit 29 is adapted to receive andsupport various types and kinds of essentially solidified or solidvolatilizable material as previously described in connection with Figs.1 and 2 of the drawing.

The further modification shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing corresponds in ageneral way with the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, particularly inthat the container part is provided with spirally arranged internalgrooves 36 and ridges 37. In the device, as shown in Fig. 4 however, adiifuser unit 38 is provided having on the exterior surface thereofspirally arranged grooves 39 and ridges 40 adapted to engage the ridges37 and grooves 36 respectively, of the container. The diffuser unit 38can be fashioned of any suitable material and is provided with suitableopenings or apertures 41 in the side walls thereof to permit freepassage of air and vapors therethrough. The form of diffuser unit, asshown in Fig. 4, lends itself particularly to production from plasticmaterial by molding. On the other hand, especially treated paper orcardboard could be first fashioned in a cylindrical form and thenre-formed to provide the spiral grooves and ridges 39 and 40 thereon.

As in the case of devices previously described the diffuser device, asshown in Fig. 4, is operated by merely rotating the diffuser unit 38 tothereby cause vertical movement of the diffuser unit in the container35. The device as shown in Fig. 4 has the advantage of dispensing withall supplemental parts and mechanism and relyingupon the form andconstruction of the diffuser unit and the cooperating inner surface ofthe container. It

2,797,344. a r c will of course be understood that the spiral groovesand ridges on the inner surface of the container 35 need not be carriedthrough to the outer surface of the container, and the outer surface ofthe container can be fashioned or ornamented in any desired manner.

Various changes and modifications in the diffuser devices hereindisclosed may occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent thatsuch changes and modifications fall within the purview of the appendedclaims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A device for the adjustable support of articles in different extendedpositions with respect to cylindrical containers, said device comprisinga threaded element extending longitudinally and peripherally of thecontainer and integral therewith, a rotatable element having at itslower end radial fins terminating in tongues which operatively engagesaid threaded element for longitudinal advancement in the rotationthereof, said rotatable element being of substantially the height ofsaid container and providing means for the support of articlessubstantially filling said container, and the upper end of saidrotatable element including finger engaging means facilitating rotationthereof in raising and lowering said element and supported articles withrespect to said container.

2. A device for the adjustable support of articles in different extendedpositions with respect to cylindrical containers, said device comprisinga threaded element extending longitudinally and peripherally of thecontainer and integral therewith, a rotatable element having at itslower end radially extending means operatively engaging said threadedelement for longitudinal advancement in the rotation thereof, saidrotatable element being of substantially the height of said containerand providing means for the support of articles substantially fillingsaid container, the upper end of said rotatable element including fingerengaging means facilitating rotation thereof in raising and loweringsaid element and supported articles with respect to said container, andsaid threaded element terminating above the base of said containerpermitting disengagement of the rotatable element therefrom when in itslowermost position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the finger engaging meanscomprises a closure cap for said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS330,146 Osborn Nov. 10, 1885 426,622 Madden Apr. 29, 1890 1,380,208Holtschneider May 31, 1921 1,499,784 Recker July 1, 1924 1,748,032Weidmann Feb. 18, 1930 1,781,852 Lyhne Nov. 18, 1930 1,789,773 RaschJan. 20, 1931 1,899,748 Cornell Feb. 28, 1933 1,983,176 Klomparens Dec.4, 1934 2,135,503 Guntrip NOV. 8, 1938 2,164,433 Smith July 4, 19392,418,113 Fletcher Apr. 1, 1947 2,461,790 Vaughn Feb. 15, 1949 2,540,758Rinnman Feb. 6, 1951 2,568,814 Marcellus Sept. 25, 1951 2,610,734 NoyackSept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,059 Sweden Aug. 31, 1907 6,332 GreatBritain 1913 572,751 France June 12, 1924 847,678 Germany Aug. 25, 1952

